Representatives of New Jersey's seven vocational education student organizations (VSOs) have met key leaders of government and education in observance of Vocational-Technical Education Week. The national event is designed to focus attention on the thousands of students and teachers who learn leadership and skill development through vocational training.

This year's theme for Vocational-Technical Education Week is Career Tech: Education for Success.

"Each day, nearly 150,000 New Jersey students are gaining experience in school and at worksites in fields such as agriculture, business and technology, consumer science, health, and the manufacturing and service industries," said Acting Commissioner of Education Lucille E. Davy. "More and more, young people are drawn to specialized programs in a wide variety of technologies and trades.

"We salute these students and the men and women who support and advise them. We are especially proud of the accomplishments made by the 38,000 students who have joined one of the seven vocational education student organizations," Davy said.

VSO representatives took a guided tour of the State House yesterday and later met with representatives from the New Jersey Council of Community Colleges at the Roebling Building in Trenton. The meeting included all of the state presidents from New Jersey's VSOs and served as an opportunity for student leaders to increase their knowledge of the community college programs in New Jersey and share the accomplishments of their respective organizations.

Vocational student organizations are integrated into the vocational-technical education curriculum and serve to instill in their members the values and ideals of citizenship, volunteerism, patriotism and cooperation. They promote leadership, personal growth and career successes among their members. In 2001, the Department of Education established a VSO Leadership Council to increase and improve communication among the seven organizations and to work towards their shared goal of promoting vocational education.

New Jersey's VSOs are: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA); National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Organization; Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA); Distributive Educational Clubs of America (DECA); Technology Students Association (TSA); Skills USA-VICA; and Health Occupations Students of America.

Please contact your schools for information about local observances of Vocational-Technical Education Week.

You can visit the following Web-site to learn more about vocational programs in New Jersey public schools: